Chapter 16

Four months later, Samantha tapped her fingers nervously on the arm of the chair as she waited for Doctor Reynolds to come in. She hadn't been feeling so well lately. There was a flu going around the building that she just couldn't shake no matter what she did. As she sat in the office all sorts of terrible diseases she might have started to dance in her head and she felt a little queasy.

The door opened and Samantha jumped a little. The doctor, sensing her nerves, gave her shoulder a reassuring pat before she sat down.

"Well Samantha, you'll be pleased to know that you don't have a bug of any kind. Barring one little thing, you're perfectly fine."

"I'm confused. What do you mean, one little thing?"

"Congratulations, you're pregnant."

Samantha took a breath and held it.

"Oh my God!"

The doctor laughed.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, it's not bad or anything. I just, well, we hadn't planned on a baby this soon, that's all."

She was in total shock and she just sat staring at the floor as the doctor went through all the fine detail.

"Whatever!" Jack said as he slammed the phone down. He had just had a colossal fight with a judge about a warrant. He sighed and began writing furiously on a report about the extreme lack of cooperation he'd just received from a federal judge.

Samantha came into his office with something behind her back.

Jack half looked up but didn't really take a good look at her. He began to rage about this judge and how she must have been on her period or something because of the way she'd spoken to him.

Samantha said nothing (although usually those kinds of comments would result in a heavy glare, followed by slamming stuff) and sat down in front of him silently. She produced a gift bag and set it on the desk in front of him.

He finally took a breath and noticed the bag.

"What's this?"

She shrugged, still not speaking. He was beginning to get worried by her silence.

He eyed the bag carefully and looked back at her again. She got impatient and finally said,

"Open it then."

He opened the bag and produced a small white teddy bear with a red scarf. He softened and laughed.

"Thanks honey, just what I've always wanted." He rubbed it against his cheek, enjoying how soft it was.

"It's not for you. It's for the baby."

He stared at her for a moment, trying to process what she'd just said. Did she just say what I think she said?

She smiled looking him in the eye as he searched her face for answers.

"I'm pregnant." She said softly. Her eyes began to fill with tears of joy.

He looked at her, amazed and also began to cry. He got up and knelt down in front of her hugging her close to him.

"Oh baby, I can't believe it. Are you ok?"

"I feel great. I need to go in for an ultrasound next week, can you come with me?"

"You try and stop me."

He took her face in her hands and kissed her softly. His hand travelled to her stomach. He leaned forward and kissed it gently.

She laughed.

"Jack!" She said, rolling her eyes.

"Welcome to the family." He said to her stomach.

In two months she began to show slightly and she realised it was time to tell people. It was a lazy Saturday and at 10am, they were still in bed. She lay propped up a little by her pillow and Jack lay close to her and gently traced circles on her growing stomach with his fingers.

"The girls are coming in next week, should we tell them?" He said, still concentrating on her stomach.

"I think so; the next time they come it might not be so easy to hide."

As they waited at the airport, their faces fell slightly when they saw that Maria was with them.

They exchanged apprehensive looks but brightened up when the girls caught sight of them.

Katie ran to Samantha hugging her tightly.

"Take it easy honey." Jack said gently rubbing her back. Maria raised her eyebrow, looking from Jack to Samantha. She may have been many things but dumb wasn't one of them.

"Hey Katie-kins, what's up?"

"Mommy came with us because she's going to see Grandma."

"Hi." Maria said awkwardly. "Sorry, I didn't let you know but I only decided yesterday that I would be coming so I figured there was no point."

Samantha nodded and led the girls on to the car while Jack and Maria claimed the bags. As they waited for the carousel to start Maria seized the opportunity.

"What's wrong with her?"

Jack turned to her confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh come on Jack, you're treating her like a china doll. Katie always hugs her like that but today you tell her to take it easy. Is she sick or something?"

Jack looked at her, lifting her approaching suitcase off of the carousel.

"No, she's pregnant. We're going to tell the girls tomorrow night, but I guess she won't mind me telling you now." He said quickly and calmly.

He lifted the bags and began to walk on. She was stunned. It was like he'd knifed her in the chest. As he drove along and the girls chatted away, she looked out the window. She had been the mother of his children. Now Samantha was the one. She looked around the car. At her children, clambering to tell the Samantha everything that had happened since they'd last met as she listened with patience. Her ex-husband drove, stealing loving glances at his pregnant wife and his daughters. She was the odd one out she thought.

They dropped Samantha and the girls off at the house and Jack drove Maria on to see her mother. They were in silence until Maria spoke.

"Congratulations Jack."

"Are you trying to make me crash or something?" He looked at her incredulously wondering what she was up to.

"No, I mean it. Look I've been thinking a lot and I don't want to go on tearing strips off each other every time we meet up. What's the point on dwelling on things when we've both moved on since then? It's not good for the girls and I'm sure you'd rather not do it."

He nodded silently, sighing. This was the best conversation they'd had in a long time.

He stopped the car and she got out.

"I'll not come in. I'm sure your mother is still recovering from the last time we met."

Maria stifled a laugh. Her mother was never Jack's biggest fan so once she found out about Samantha it was good night nurse.

He looked at her.

"What?"

"You should do that more often. Smile, I mean. It takes years off you." She smiled again and looked at him thoughtfully.

"I will, from now on. Maybe I'll take a leaf out of your book." She turned around and headed up the steps. He pulled away from the kerb. As he drove he came to a realisation. Holy shit, he thought. We just made friends. He laughed all the way home.

When he told Samantha about it he was still laughing. She put a hand to his forehead and shook her own head.

"You've been too long at sea honey." She joked.

However, she was secretly pleased. She knew that it weighed on him about the way things were between them.

The next day, Samantha, Danny, Martin and Vivian were assembled at the table ready to be briefed.

"Ok guys quiet down; Samantha has something she wants to say." Vivian called them to order. Samantha had asked if she could have a minute before the briefing to make an announcement.

"Well guys I just wanted to tell you all that I'm pregnant!" The table broke into applause and cheers. Everyone kissed Samantha and congratulated her.

"I knew you'd have one in the oven before long. Where is the old son of a gun?" Leave it to Danny to spoil the moment.

Just at that moment, Jack came in. He had promised Samantha he would show his face.

"Hey, less of the old Taylor!" Jack said frowning at him.

Danny hugged him warmly and shook his hand. He pulled him in close and whispered.

"How does it feel to know you're still firing live rounds?" Danny nudged him with his elbow.

"I'm forty-five Danny, I'm not a vegetable!" Everyone laughed as he'd said that a little louder than he'd originally intended.